{"id":82,"date":"2018-03-08T21:55:00","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T21:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/08\/the-miraculous-gift-of-life\/"},"modified":"2018-03-08T21:55:00","modified_gmt":"2018-03-08T21:55:00","slug":"the-miraculous-gift-of-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/08\/the-miraculous-gift-of-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The miraculous gift of life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>I glance on Facebook and see that today is International Women\u2019s Day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>As I recently read <i><u>I am Malala<\/u><\/i> to my 5 year old daughter (and she was enthralled and couldn\u2019t \u201cput it down\u201d) and am reading about Christine Caine\u2019s organization A21, which is an anti-human trafficking organization, this day holds greater weight. Being a woman around the world poses discussion far beyond the challenges of fertility, mothering, \u201cme-too\u201d, and the intricacies of being daughter, sister, friend.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp;<\/span>So here I pause for a moment to acknowledge <i>every<\/i>woman and her story, spoken or silent.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><o:p><br \/><\/o:p><\/div>\n<div><o:p><br \/><\/o:p><\/div>\n<div>A woman cannot deny that her body was designed to bear children.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>She was created with a womb and her monthly cycle reminds her of this.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>She may choose not to have children, she may struggle with barrenness, she may become pregnant when she didn\u2019t want to be.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>But she cannot deny her physiology.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>It shapes her.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In this vein, mothering has shaped me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I always wanted to be a mother, not that I profoundly loved dolls or babies (in fact, to this day, I\u2019m not particularly fond of holding babies); but I desired to be mom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I was awakened to the reality that motherhood is wrought with \u201cintense pain and suffering\u201d (Genesis <st1:time hour=\"15\" minute=\"16\">3:16<\/st1:time>) when I miscarried my first pregnancy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Subsequently, I realized mothering does not go as \u201cplanned\u201d when I (finally) became pregnant with my second child only to surprisingly find out I was being blessed with an extra baby: twins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Mothering twins is an arduous endeavor. <\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In my recent challenges of facing brain cancer, reading the bible and spending time in prayer has become an absolute life-line for me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>It was in a recent time of prayer that I became aware that my role as a mother is more profound than I realized.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>It matters greatly.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As I realize my primary role in mothering &#8212;- this happened: my love for my children is bursting out of me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our pastor recently spoke on \u201cwhere your focus is your feelings will follow.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>As I focus on my children more, my feelings overflow!<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>And below I catalogue the result.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><u>A prayer for my children<o:p><\/o:p><\/u><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>My children I truly pray and believe that you will change your worlds; however, I also realize how greatly you already have.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>You shape me and help loosen out the junk in my life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>You compel me to equip myself well to be your mom.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the process I am better able to make a positive impact in our family, our neighborhood, our city.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Children my prayer is that you\u2019ll always remember your God-given ability to change your world!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>The Gift<u> <span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp;<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n<div>Exhausted, these hands are full.<\/div>\n<div>I am weary and oh so worn.<\/div>\n<div>I am broken.<\/div>\n<div>I feel my inadequacies.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/div>\n<div>They penetrate: the everything I try to accomplish <\/div>\n<div><span style=\"mso-tab-count: 2;\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>: the everything I try to be.<\/div>\n<div>And I am not enough. Not even close.<\/div>\n<div>These blessings I hold are more than I could have imagined<\/div>\n<div>And so often, more than I can handle.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I am humbled that I\u2019ve been chosen.<\/div>\n<div>Chosen to mother.<\/div>\n<div>When you were conceived I did not understand what lay ahead.<\/div>\n<div>My children have become great teachers in my life.<\/div>\n<div>Non-stop relentless<\/div>\n<div>Frustrating, precipitating anger I didn\u2019t know could exist in my bones.<\/div>\n<div>My flaws are magnified, amplified for clear view.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Dear God:<\/div>\n<div>Oh Maker of my children, Maker of me<\/div>\n<div>I thank you.<\/div>\n<div>For the beauty I hold in my arms. <\/div>\n<div>Blessings abound and flood over me.<\/div>\n<div>These children<\/div>\n<div>Are<\/div>\n<div>My<\/div>\n<div>Legacy.<\/div>\n<div>My gift to shape and raise<\/div>\n<div>(Oh God grant me wisdom!)<\/div>\n<div>And give these children eyes to see your beauty<\/div>\n<div>And lips to proclaim your blessings,<\/div>\n<div>Wisdom to understand how to use the gifts and talent you have granted them.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>God replies:<\/div>\n<div>I turn everything to good.<\/div>\n<div>I am the great Creator.<\/div>\n<div>Look at these children bringing LIFE into your home!<\/div>\n<div>Look at this life journey and the treasures you\u2019ve uncovered.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I bring LIFE<\/div>\n<div>I bring LIFE<\/div>\n<div>I bring LIFE ABUNDANTLY!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>&#8212;&#8212;<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Ephesians <st1:time hour=\"18\" minute=\"10\">6:10<\/st1:time><span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cBe strong with the LORD\u2019S Mighty Power.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Children, this life will batter you sooner or later, so always remember where your strength comes from: God\u2019s mighty power!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>My children shape me tremendously.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I learn from them as they require me to sharpen myself as a mother, as I see my stark inadequacies and try to remedy them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I learn from them as they teach me to believe, to love, to have courage, to be passionate and to find tenderness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I learn from them continuously.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>They reflect my own self back to me and I see strengths and I see weaknesses.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I see humanity.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I hold my tender 2 year old daughter and stroke her cheek and look at her precious small toes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I am overcome by belief in my Almighty God; my children are a testament to me of our great Creator.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>These 3 children knit in my womb, flesh of my flesh.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>And there\u2019s something about 2 year olds: they are no longer babies, they\u2019ve become these precious miniature, but full of life, humans.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Humans with rage and delightful sweetness entertwined, cute as can be and exhausting as all get out.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>The miracle of life overwhelms me.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>This little life I hold in my arms is already passionately beautiful.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>She came from me with perfect little toes, so lovely.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Life breathed into her by God Himself.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I am blessed beyond measure to witness this miracle in my home.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Oh how my God is so good.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Thank you Allison for teaching me passion and tenderness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank you Rayna for teaching me kindness and generosity.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank you Garrett for teaching me diligence and light-heartedness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thank you children for opening my world to greater love.<span style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\">&nbsp; <\/span>I love you all more than I can possibly describe and in ever-increasing measure.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Love,<\/div>\n<div>Mom<o:p><\/o:p><\/div>\n<div>XOXO<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I glance on Facebook and see that today is International Women\u2019s Day.&nbsp; As I recently read I am Malala to my 5 year old daughter (and she was enthralled and couldn\u2019t \u201cput it down\u201d) and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The miraculous gift of life - Cheryl Rostek<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2018\/03\/08\/the-miraculous-gift-of-life\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The miraculous gift of life - Cheryl Rostek\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I glance on Facebook and see that today is International Women\u2019s Day.&nbsp; 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